Sheryl Buss Exemplifies Spirit of DCTC

Annual award goes to former Office Careers instructor

Sheryl Buss, an Office Careers instructor at Dakota County Technical College from 1976 to 2001 received the annual Spirit of DCTC Award at the True Blue Gala April 19, 2012, at Brackett’s Crossing in Lakeville, Minn. The Spirit of DCTC recognizes individuals who have contributed selflessly to the college mission while showing boundless support for student success in the classroom and beyond.

Buss graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in 1968 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She returned to her home state of Minnesota and began a career with Control Data Corporation, one of the top nine supercomputer companies in the U.S. in the 1960s. Buss worked at Control Data’s world headquarters in Bloomington. In her role as a CDC personnel administrator, she traveled to various technical colleges to interview students. She built an exceptionally strong relationship with DCTC, then known as Dakota County Area Vocational Technical Institute. Before long, Buss went from speaking to business classes and serving on the college’s Office Careers Advisory Board to forging a 25-year teaching and mentoring career as a member of the DCTC faculty.

Through teaching, Buss enjoyed watching her students grow and prepare themselves for work and life. One of her most rewarding experiences each semester was watching her students plan and host a campus-wide multicultural celebration, an event she established that continues to this day. The original celebration brought in more than 200 attendees. After only eight years of exemplary service to the college community, Buss was honored as the 1984 Outstanding Instructor of the Year.

Her fondness for technical education goes well beyond the classroom. She gave 37 years of service on the Office Careers Advisory Board, where she helped shape curriculum and build connections with business and industry. Working through the DCTC Foundation, Buss also established the Sheryl Buss Administrative and Medical Office Careers Endowment, which provides financial assistance to students in need, allowing them to focus their energy on academic and professional success. To date, four students have benefited from the scholarship fund.

Sheryl Buss and her mother, Edith

After retiring in 2001, Buss was blessed and honored to become a full-time caregiver for her mother, Edith. The two traveled the country and met many new people. Buss treasures the memories from that wonderful experience.

As a 36-year resident of Eagan, Buss gives a great deal of her time to her neighborhood community. She volunteers for the Eagan Citizens Crime Prevention Association and is actively involved with her church, serving on the Staff Parish Relations Committee. She also takes advantage of other volunteer opportunities.

Sheryl Buss remains connected with her former DCTC students and colleagues and often attends DCTC events. Her commitment to student prosperity and the college mission grows stronger with time. She is a profound example of how enthusiasm, dedication, compassion and know-how make technical education at DCTC the very best it can be.

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